DesignInc Melbourne Grows Leadership Team

Studio News 21 January 2022 Share

The Melbourne studio announces a fourth director and a new associate to strengthen our leadership team.

Our Melbourne studio is pleased to share the news that Darryl Suttie has been made a Director. An Architect with over two decades of experience, Darryl joined DesignInc in 2005 and became a Principal in 2020. The move strengthens DesignInc’s leadership, with four Directors now leading the Melbourne design firm.

Health Architect and Planner Helen Neill has been promoted to Associate. Helen has experience on some of Australia’s largest and most demanding health projects including Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

DesignInc Melbourne Directors Christon Batey-Smith, Stephen Webb and Rohan Wilson congratulated Darryl and Helen. They said, ‘With Darryl on board as a Director, it enables us to be more effective as leaders. We will each be able to focus more strategically on our strengths and not feel stretched across many things. As an Associate, Helen will work closely with clients and stakeholders to improve design strategies and better health outcomes.’

Darryl is passionate about following through on DesignInc’s commitment to core values. He wants every DesignInc project to be a great project that yields a positive result for the environment and community. DesignInc aims to see healthy building principles delivered in more institutional and government buildings. ‘The most significant thing DesignInc can do is work with our clients to deliver carbon zero buildings and guide them into the realm of regenerative architecture that heals the planet. We believe that this is what our profession should be doing now.’ said Darryl.

We are moving beyond being ‘sustainable’. It’s critical now to design healthy environments that contribute to the earth’s energy reserves, water stores and air quality.
Darryl Suttie
Director, DesignInc Melbourne

In this respect, DesignInc is leading from the front and challenging clients to commit to a carbon-neutral future. Darryl explained, ‘Whether designing environments for learning, communities or healing; we are clear on our priorities. What matters most to us is making healthy buildings with outstanding environmental values and design solutions that are good for people and good for the planet.’

Helen joined DesignInc in 2016 and has worked on health facilities including the Alfred Hospital, Thomas Embling SPICU and Deakin University’s School of Nursing. She has also been busy on complex defence projects, working with large multi-disciplinary consultant teams and contributing her extensive stakeholder engagement skills.

Despite Covid-19, DesignInc has grown strongly. The Melbourne studio now numbers over 60 people, representing a 30% increase over two years, and our team continues to grow. However, we are not pursuing a growth strategy for its own sake. DesignInc is selectively focused on working on the right projects with the right people.

The current growth phase provides us with fantastic opportunities to foster young talent. ‘We are actively looking to hire emerging talented designers and graduates to support our broad portfolio of projects. It’s refreshing to welcome this new cohort into the studio’.